Eagles: Drew Brees torched Philadelphia for 275
passing yards and three touchdowns in a 27-24 win on Oct. 15. The Eagles
ninth-rated pass defense must resemble the unit that locked down Eli Manning
last week instead of the one that got run around the Superdome by Brees.

Eagles: Jeff Garcia is red-hot (139.2 passer rating
last six full games) and has an assortment of targets. Expect him to throw
a lot.

Saints: New Orleans finished third against the pass during the regular
season. But the unit had only 11 interceptions, which can help turn the
tide of a playoff contest. Only the Dolphins and Redskins had fewer picks.

When the Saints run

Edge

Eagles: Entering the playoffs with the league's
26th-rated rushing defense didn't bode well. Tiki Barber torching the Eagles
for 167 yards on the ground in the wild-card matchup should make New Orleans
confident.

Saints: Deuce McAllister (1,057 yards in 2006) has had two weeks
off. Reggie Bush eclipsed 100 yards rushing for the first time in the regular-season's
penultimate game. The Saints' two-headed attack is ready to roll.

When the Eagles run

Edge

Eagles: Brian Westbrook broke out for 141 yards on the ground in the wild-card win against the Giants. The Eagles, who averaged 124 rushing yards in the regular season (vs. the Saints' 129 allowed) should be able to move the ball on the turf.

Saints: The Achilles' heel for New Orleans? Ranked 23rd against the
run in the regular season, the Saints will need help from the returning
Hollis Thomas to limit Philadelphia's impact on the Superdome's artificial
surface.

Special teams

Edge

Eagles: David Akers is about as clutch as a kicker
can be, as his walk-off boot that defeated the Giants proved.

Saints: John Carney is a solid placekicker. And Reggie Bush's dynamic
game-changing abilities in the return game could make the difference.

Coaching

Edge

Eagles: Reid carries an 8-5 playoff
record into the Superdome. The Super Bowl-hardened leader has compelled
his squad on a wild winning streak into the second round of the playoffs
and, like his seasoned quarterback is playing, is coaching like he has nothing
to lose.

Saints: Sean Payton may be coach of the year, but this is virgin
territory for him and his young team

Prediction: Saints 30, Eagles 21

MORE ON THE GAME

TV announcers: Dick Stockton, Daryl Johnston, Tony Siragusa

Sheridan's line: Saints by 4½

Keys to the game: The Eagles can't hope to run for 6 yards a carry for a second consecutive game, but they do need to receive consistent production out of their ground game. Philadelphia's play-calling has been balanced since QB Jeff Garcia stepped into the starting lineup, but the Eagles need to control the clock to keep New Orleans' high-octane offense off the field. For as potent as the Saints' passing game is, QB Drew Brees has struggled in games in which RB Deuce McAllister is negated. Brees needs the threat of the run to set up play-action and buy time to push the ball downfield. The Eagles gave up 4.9 yards a carry last Sunday and now must deal with the two-pronged threat of McAllister and Reggie Bush. Bush's presence will be especially taxing for the Eagles. Defensive coordinator Jim Johnson loves to bring pressure, but Bush's versatility out of the backfield makes him a big play waiting to happen any time the blitz is picked up.

Key matchup — Eagles CBs Sheldon Brown and Rod Hood vs. Saints WRs Marques Colston and Joe Horn: Philadelphia's secondary was already burned by Brees for 275 yards and three touchdowns during the regular season. Now the Eagles enter the rematch with the likelihood that they will be without their top cover man after Lito Sheppard left the Giants game with a dislocated elbow. The secondary was torched during the Giants' tying touchdown drive after Sheppard went down, and New York doesn't have nearly the receiving weapons that the Saints boast. Colston and Horn combined for 10 catches, 150 yards and three touchdowns in the first meeting, although Horn is trying to recover from a partially torn groin that kept him out of the past four games. Sheppard's likely absence also taxes Philadelphia's depth, and the team will be hard-pressed to find a cover man to stick with third receiver Devery Henderson.

Fast facts: The Saints' 1-5 (.167) postseason record is the worst in the NFL. ... Eagles K David Akers has made a field goal in 11 consecutive playoff games, third-best all-time. ... The Eagles lead the series 15-9 and won the only previous playoff meeting 36-20 in New Orleans in 1992.